Some of my earliest childhood memories are from visiting the USS Olympia, the sole floating survivor of the Spanish-American War. It has been a museum ship at Penn’s Landing for my entire life, and from the early childhood of my parents. I’ve taken almost anyone I know who visits Philadelphia to this ship. When Teddy Roosevelt talked about speaking softly, and carrying a big stick, the Olympia was the big stick.

I’m very distraught to hear that it’s time is very likely coming to and end because after decades of improper care, the Independence Seaport Museum can not afford the 20 million dollar price tag to fix all her problems. To me this is an icon of Philadelphia, and I agree with Wyatt hat we ought to be ashamed.

Where are the rich folks? A quality business jet can easily run you 30 million, not to mention operating cost. What’s 20 or 30 million to have your own late 19th century battle cruiser? Hell, I’d buy a 500 dollar ticket to take a cruise on that, especially if you let me blow the hell out of something with the guns. I’d hate to see this thing go to the bottom of the sea.

I understand conflicting demands. However, the number of surviving, let alone still floating, 19th century steel ships of any kind is not a long list. If you’re going to make choices about what to preserve, I would argue more fervently for USS Olympia over USS New Jersey across the river in Camden.

If Philly can’t keep her due to mismanagement, shortsightedness, etc, why not shake free a Congressional appropriation and have her towed to a different museum. I’m sure the USS Intrepid, Battleship Cove or the USS Barry in Washington DC could use a new berth mate.

Hell, if I was wealthy, I’d buy her outright, have her restored and put her back on display and into service not unlike the John W. Brown and do tourist cruises.

All things are relative. Most corporations can buy a congress critter for > $50,000, senators go for under $100,000. Heck, BP bought a president for $997,000.
They may think $20m too much for something they can’t park beside another corporation’s purchase.

Agree that my Lottery Winnings would go to refit the Olympia. Which, of course, begs the question: Do we leave the original guns mounted or go with something more modern? “What gun for pyrates and drug smugglers?”